Springfield daily republic. [volume] (Springfield, O. [Ohio]) 1887-1888, 1887-09-10
THREE LINKS IN 4 CHAIN.

Neither the brush nor the pen. but the
lancet and the scalpel, are properly my
tools. and yet for an hour past have been
occupied in delineating on the canvas Of
memory certain scenes that belong to the
past. The reverie painted pictures are
three in number, and each is vivid. sharply
defined and stands ConspicuouSly out in
its setting of trivial or eXaCting Circum-
stance. Have they anything in common.
despite their seeming dissociations | be-
gin to think 50. A more dubious prob
lem: II there is indeed n hidden secret
link between these events, will the dis
covery thereof aid or hinder the realiza-
ton of my dearest hope, | have At pres
ent no answer 10 this question.
The first scene Imagination has con
jnred anew before me with all the exact
ness of realism reveals the interior of
jewelers. shop in Renford, my native
town. Ii is a fine large business apart
ment, with its walls lined with cases dis
playing through their polished glass costly
articles of vlrtu--for Mr. Huntley mag
ui,ies his trade and is IA collector-and
It's counters spread with more cases, hold
ing in dainty nests gold and silver and
precious stones. fashioned in many forms
Of use and ornament. Mr.. Huntley's
shopman is busy in the front rearranging
a portion Of the stock; his employer and
are discussing in the Office, semipa
titioned off at the rear, IA question of local
politics having no sort Of connection with
the present narrative. My father is vicar
Of Renford: and Mr.. Huntley, As long rs
! can recolleCt, has been Wears church
warden-hence the intimacy between us;
and although | have commenced the study
Of medicine, and look speedily to sever the
tie of residence in the quiet western town,
i am still interested in local affairs. Sud
denly, the shop doors-there are wisely
two-open one after the other-the inner
one with a sharp little jerk that betokens
nervousness or haste on the part of the
prospective customer. The austere young
man who is polishing an enamel brooch
deity replaces il. slides back the case bot
tom with a subdued click. and waits in
an attitude of deferential attention.
Standing at right angles to Mr.. Huntley's
desk, l am facing the shop and the street,
and however incurious, am compelled To
see and hear what passes.
Ii is young grl-she may be Is,
she may be oider-who has entered, and
there is something about her that l find
curiously attractive. She is a stranger to
me, and therefore, perhaps, observe more
particularly the slim, shapely figure,
fawulike in its timid Yet graceful move
ments; the pretty piquant profile; the clear
complexion, with the pink spot, telling Of
excitement, in the center of the beauti-
fully moulded cheek: the wayward golden
curls, that defy the restraint Of the sim
pie sun hat; and the dress of soft creamy
white, which So admirably suits both its
owner and the pleasant summer weather.
Erect, energetic, with an evident sense Of
humiliation playing the foil TO n touch Of
unconscious hauteur-the vision Comes
back as write.
"Iou wish to see the principal, Miss
Did understand correctlyl''
The girl gave quick gesture of assent;
the assistant calls his master, and left
with only the occupation of the onlooker
From small threadhare reticule l see
produced bracelet, a ring and one or two
other articles. which seemed to have
formed part of a fashionable lady's outfit
of jewelry. The color has deepened on
the maiden's face, and am fancying that
she is at once proud of her possessions
and anxious as 10 the result Of her present
enterprise. She has reason for her anxiety,
suspects nothing will be bold to say
that one cannot watch the changing
lights and shadows of her countenance
and think her the originator or willful ac
OF fraud.
''These--what can yOu give me for
these" she asks in a low. quivering voice.
"Iou do buy gems, Believe; these are
very valuable. am told" She does not
l.. yb.. tlft ion
of the fact that a respectable tradesman
will hardly make a random offer for jewels
that can be thus described, without in
Guiry not only as to the bona fides of the
but as to the authority also for
the sale.
But this stage is never reached. Mr..
Huntley has taken up one by one the
cleaning wares, and one by one laid them
aside after an inspection which has its
result in making him phenomenally
grave and chasing a storm line across
his forehead. Have you any idea Of the
worth Of these articles, OF Of either-any
one Of them he dryly asked.
think both the assistant and myself in
stinctively prick up our ears. The girl,
too, is startled by his tone. Il have been
said it-,hat the stones in
the bracelet alone cost 42JV.
The glance with which she meets Mr..
Huntleys keen look is as open as the day,
and the expression on the jewelers. face
turns to one of pity. Il could not give
you as many shillings, miss. The stones
are clever limitations, and that is all.
There is not one genuine amongst those
you have shown Inc. Mr.. SkirrOw, let
me have your opinion
The assistant conf ms the unflattering
Judgment. and does it with a sheer that l
felt disposed. though with no valid reason,
to resent.
The crimson tide has ebbed, and the
girls cheeks are blanched; her lips quiver,
and at first no sound comes from them;
her eyes slowly ill with tears. fear
that she may drop in u swoon, but this
woman's weakness she does not seem 10
share There are seconds of intolerable
suspense for us all. At last there is half
stifled cry: Jack! how could you!''
1t is plain that she accepts the stu
alton, and that her thoughts are even
now busy with the solution Of her dark
enigma. For the moment she has for
gotten her environment, and she mur-
murs her vain protest against the-to us
unknown culprit whose duplicity, how
ever exercised, has plunged her into an
abyss Of shame. Then she stammers an
apology, accepts mechanically at Mr..
Huntley's hands the shabby bag into
which he has gathered, by her permission,
the dishonored treasures, and retires. l
question if in ali Renford there is heavier
heart; and wonder with eager, palpitat-
ing interest, who is Jack" and what is
the precise nature Of the nefarious trick
he has perpetrated.
Mr.. Huntley can explain little-only
that Miss Raine and her father who is
said to lie an artist are the new people at
Bristol cottage,
The second Of these pictures, imprinted
SO indelibly on the retina of my mind, is
widely different in motif and in detail.
The place is an ambulance tent, pitched,